One-piece boat



Oct. 30, 1962 R. A. ROBISCN 5 ONE-PIECE BOAT Filed Oct. 7, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 1 /4 F/gJ 44 I 48 Rolf A. Rob/son 1N VEN TOR.

BY M mm,

R. A. ROBlSON ONE-PIECE BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1958 Rolf A.Rob/ism 1N VEN TOR.

nit dtaes The present invention generally relates to a boat constructionand more particularly to a boat which is constructed of one piece ofmaterial thereby eliminating the usual joints and seams which aresubject to leaking and which also define weakened structural points inthe boat.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a boatconstructed of one piece of material that is accomplished by folding asingle piece of material in a predetermined manner to form a boat whichhas no seams or joints, at least below the water line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a boatconstruction of one piece in which the contours of the bottom area ofthe boat are such that the water drag of the boat at high speeds isreduced to a minimum.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece boatconstruction having a minimum water drag especially at high speed whichis extremely simple in construction, easy to make, rugged and longlasting and extremely inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FlGURE 1 is a side elevation of the boat of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGURE 1 withportions thereof broken away illustrating the details of construction;

FlGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the boat with a part of the transombroken away;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the boat;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the boat;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line '66 of FIGURE 2 illustratingfurther details of construction of the boat;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the boat is formedshowing the various fold or crease lines;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating thecross-sectional shape of the boat adjacent the forward end thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective view showing one step in forming theboat from the single piece of material;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line Iii-dill of FIGURE 6 illustrating the fold atthe junction between the bow portion of the boat and the main portion;and

FIGURE 11 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line l.l-l1 of FIGURE 6 illustrating the jointbetween the adjacent edges of the forward deck of the boat.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral It) generallydesignates the boat construction of the present invention which for thepurposes of descrip- Bfihdfihd Patented Oct. 30, 1962 tion will bedivided generally into a bow section designated by the numeral 12, amain hull or central hull section 14- and a stern area 16. FIGURE 7illustrates the blank from which the boat 10 is constructed and theblank is generally designated by the numeral 18 and is substantiallyrectangular in configuration. In order to define the construction of theboat, each area of the blank 18 will be given a reference numeral anddescribed and this reference numeral will be employed throughout thefinal construction of the boat shown in the various other views. Theblank 18 may be constructed of any suitable material such as sheet metalor various metallic alloys.

The general rectangular blank 18 is separated into a bow sectiongenerally designated by the numeral 29, a central hull section 22 and astern section 24. The bow section 20 is connected with the central hullsection 22 by a transversely extending fold line 26 which is inclinedfrom the center slightly towards the bow end of the blank 18. The sternsection 24 is separated from the central hull section 22 by a transversefold line separated into outer segments 28 which are perpendicular tothe side edges of the blank and inner sections 30 which aresubstantially parallel to the fold line 26, that is having the outer endthereof inclined towards the bow section 20. A longitudinal fold line orkeel line 32 is provided and generally is along the longitudinal centerof the blank and forms the keel portion of the boat and the blank 18 issymmetrical on both sides of the longitudinal line 32.

The stern section 24 is provided with a fold line 34 extendinglongitudinally of the blank and intersecting the inner end of the foldline 28. A diagonal fold line 36 extends from the point of intersectionbetween the fold lines 28 and 34 and extends to the outer side edge ofthe blank 13 in spaced relation to the rear edge of the stern section24.

The central hull section 22 is provided with a longitudinal fold line 38forming an extension of the fold line 34 in the stern section and thefold line 38 extends substantially to the fold line 36 but terminatesslightly in spaced relation thereto. Extending diagonally and forwardlyfrom the point of intersection of the fold line 30 and the center foldline 32 is a fold line 40 which terminates adjacent to but slightlyspaced from the terminal end of the fold line 38 and also in spacedrelation to the fold line 2-6.

The bow section 20 is provided with a fold line 42 extending from thepoint of intersection between the fold line 26 and the center line 32and extending in forward- 1y diverging relation to the fold line 26. Theouter portion of the fold line 42 is designated by the numeral 44 and isangulated to a greater degree of divergence in relation to the fold line26. A fold or crease line 46 extends from the outer end of the fold line44 and extends diagonally to the point of intersection between the endedge of the bow section 20 and the center line 32. The blank 18 issymmetrical about the center line 32 and corresponding fold lines oneither side of the center line are given the same reference numerals.Likewise, the areas defined by the fold lines will be given the samereference numerals.

The area of the bow section outwardly of the fold line 46 may be termedan upward deck section and is designated by the numeral 43 and isgenerally triangular in configuration. The area defined by the centerline 32, fold line 46, fold lines 42 and 44 is designated by the numeral50 and forms one inclined side of the bow section 12. The area betweenthe fold line 26 and the fold lines 42 and 44 is designated by thenumeral 52 and forms a reverse fold or dart for permitting theangulation of the bow section and the central hull section in relationto each other.

The area of the central hull section 22 outwardly of the fold line 38 isdesignated by the reference numeral 54 and may be termed the gunwales inthat it extends up- Wardly from the bottom section 56 enclosed by thefold lines 38, 40 and 30. The triangular area generally defined by thefold lines 40 and the fold line 26 is designated by the numeral 58 andis divided in half by the center line 32 and generally is downwardlycurved and forms a continuation of the lower edge of the bow section 12and forms the major portion of the bottom of the central hull section14.

The stem 24 includes the transom 60 disposed between the fold lines 34and rearwardly of the fold line 30 along with a triangular shapedfoldable extension 62 and a trapezoidal shaped extension 64 which areseparated by the fold line 36 and which are for folding into overlyingrelation to each other and against the rear surface of the transom 60.

In setting up the boat, the transom or stern section 60 is folded alongthe fold line 30 generally into perpendicular and arcuate relation asshown in FIGURE '2. The extension 62 along with the gunwale 54 is foldedinto a vertical position at which time the extension 64 will also befolded into a vertical position along the fold line 36 thus forming adouble thickness triangular shaped extension for the gunwales 54 asillustrated in FIGURE 9. Due to the orientation of the terminal end ofthe fold line 36, the outer edge of the trapezoidal area 64 is disposedabove the free edge of the triangular section 62 as shown in FIGURE 9.The double thickness triangular extension is then folded inwardlyagainst the rear surface of the stern board 60 and the area of the sternboard 69 and the area of the trapezoidal area 64 above the top edge ofthe triangular section 62 and above the top edge of the gunwale section54 is folded downwardly in a reverse fold thus capturing the upper edgeof the triangular section 62 and rigidly holding the same in positionand also rigidifying the upper edge of the transom or stern member 60thereby rigidifying the rear end of the boat.

The perpendicular orientation of the gunwale 54 is not carriedthroughout its length since the forward portion of the gunwales 54inclines outwardly and the deck portions 56 are substantially horizontalalthough they may incline downwardly and outwardly slightly. The bottomsection 58 is generally concave in configuration or substantiallyV-shaped in configuration as illustrated in FIG- URE 8 and the fold line26 is initially folded about the longitudinal center 32 and the foldline 42 and 44 is then folded into overlapping relation to the hullsection as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 10 thus orientating the bowsections or areas 50 in inclined and converging relation which convergeforwardly and diverge upwardly. The triangular sections 48 are thenfolded inwardly and are joined along a longitudinal line spaced abovethe longitudinal center with the adjacent edges when in folded conditionbeing joined by a double outwardly facing channel shaped member 66 whichis secured thereto by welding, soldering or the like 68, thus formingthe only joint in the boat construction and, of course, this joint iswell above the water line.

From the description of the blank and the manner in which the same isfolded to form the boat, the construction of the boat is clearlyapparent. The particular orientation of the bow section and theparticular V-shaped configuration of the forward section of the centralhull and the possible inverted V-shaped construction of the rear end ofthe hull provides for a minimum water drag when the boat is moving athigh speeds. As the speed of the boat increases, the particularconstruction of the hull is such that the bow section will ride up outof the water and only the central hull section will engage the waterthus reducing the resistance to passage of the boat through the water.The blank 18 may be of suitable material such as sheet metal, variousmetallic alloys, steel screen or mesh, any fibrous material or clothcovered with or sprayed with fiber glass or plastic.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A one-piece hull construction of sheet material formed from asubstantially rectangular blank by folding along predetermined foldlines, said blank including a central hull section at one end and aforward bow section at the other end, said bow section of said blankincluding a longitudinal fold and keel line along which said bow sectionis folded to form upwardly divergent sides, a pair of rearwardlydiverging fold lines extending rearwardly from a point adjacent thejuncture of said keel line and the forward end edge of said blank anddefining forward and opposite side and generally triangular bow decksections folded backwardly over said sides and having the portions ofthe forward end edges of said blank disposed on opposite sides of saidkeel line and closely adjacent in generally parallel relation extendinglongitudinally of said blank above said keel line and between saidsides, means securing the opposite side portions of the forward marginalend edge portion of said blank together, a pair of darts formed in saidblank between said center hull section and said forward bow section,said darts comprising reversely folded portions of said blank, each dartincluding two superposed thicknesses of said blank and being generallytriangular in plan with its base edge generally coinciding with thecorresponding adjacent portions of the corresponding side edge of saidblank and tapering inwardly to an apex at least closely adjacent saidkeel line at the rear end of said bow section, said darts inclining saidkeel line forwardly and upwardly relative to the rear portion of thelongitudinal center axis of said blank and said central hull section ofsaid blank, the center hull section of said blank including upwardlyprojecting sides forming continuations of the rear ends of the bowsection sides.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hull construction includes anupstanding transversely extending stern section, the entire hullconstruction being constructed of one-piece material.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said darts each are folded overthe adjacent portions of said central hull section wherein they openrearwardly so as to form a shallow rearwardly opening step and its freeedge portion extending transversely of the corresponding portion of saidhull construction.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hull construction includes anupstanding transversely extending stern section, the entire hullconstruction being constructed of one-piece material, said stern sectioncomprising a transom, the opposite end edges of said transom and therear edges of the sides of said central hull section beinginterconnected by a pair of triangular gussets, said gussets each beingfolded against the inner surface of the corresponding end of saidtransom thereby enabling said central hull section sides and saidtransom to be disposed generally in perpendicular relation and formedfrom a single fiat blank of sheet metal.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lazaron June 11, 1912 Hewitt Feb. 24, 19145 Ebert June 16, 1914 Langen Nov. 6, 1928 Lindstrom May 14, 1935Goldberg Jan. 21, 1936 6 Bowen May 22, 945 Slaughter Nov. 6, 1945 NapoliNov. 21, 1950 Ventura Mar. 27, 1951 Porter July 27, 1954 Kelly Dec. 3,1957 Henry Apr. 7, 1959 Snider Jan. 31, 1961

